Marketplaces

Looking for popular online marketplaces in Europe? If not, please read further. Whenever you ask someone what comes up in their mind on hearing the word ‘ecommerce’, there’s a big chance they will come up with eBay or Amazon. And can you blame them? These marketplaces are amongst the biggest and most successful ecommerce players in the world. Marketplaces are very popular among consumers as they often offer a very wide range of merchandise, all on one site.

Amazon charges fees for packaged returns in Germany

By Arjan - March 13, 2025 - Subject(s): Logistics, Marketplaces.

For several years, German Amazon customers have been able to return products without packaging. No shipping box or parcel label is required, making it easy for buyers. Now, the market leader is further incentivizing box-free returns: customers who use a box must pay a fee.

Zalando announces growth acceleration and expansion

By Arjan - March 6, 2025 - Subject(s): Launch, Marketplaces, Statistics.

Zalando looks back on a successful year, with higher revenue, increased profits, and more customers. The company expects growth acceleration, driven by its successful ecosystem strategy. Zalando will also expand into three new countries this year: Portugal, Greece, and Bulgaria.

Amazon plans to launch Haul in Europe

By Pleuni - March 4, 2025 - Subject(s): Cross-border, Marketplaces.

Ecommerce giant Amazon is reportedly eyeing an expansion of its discount storefront, called Amazon Haul. It is supposed to compete with cheap ecommerce platforms like Temu and Shein. It is planning to launch Haul in Europe later this year.

eBay shrinks in the UK, stabilizes in Germany

By Arjan - March 3, 2025 - Subject(s): Cross-border, Marketplaces.

eBay reported a revenue of 1.4 billion euros (1.5 billion dollars) in the United Kingdom last year, over a hundred million dollars less than the year before. In Germany, revenue remained more or less stable. The company is performing better elsewhere.

TikTok Shop welcomes merchants in Germany, France, and Italy

By Arjan - February 27, 2025 - Subject(s): Launch, Marketplaces.

TikTok is boosting its European ecommerce operations. From now on, merchants can register to start selling through TikTok Shop in Germany, France, and Italy. Users of the social media platform in these countries will soon be able to place orders.

Otto lays off hundreds of customer service employees

By Pleuni - February 20, 2025 - Subject(s): Marketplaces, Online store.

German online platform Otto is eliminating 480 call center positions. This results in layoffs of hundreds of employees. Several of the company’s customer service locations will be closed completely.

SellerX is letting 20% of workforce go

By Pleuni - February 20, 2025 - Subject(s): Funding, Marketplaces.

Marketplace aggregator SellerX has announced that it is letting go of a fifth of its workforce. This comes down to 170 jobs out of a total of more than 800. The company is doing this because it needs to cut costs.

Bol earns more than all its partner sellers

By Arjan - February 14, 2025 - Subject(s): Cross-channel, Marketplaces.

Dutch online marketplace Bol has had a good year: sales increased 8.7 percent, reaching 3.1 billion euros. It also earned more from its own platform sales than all sales partners together, figures show. Bol seems to become more like an online store again, instead of a platform.

Amazon grows 8.7% in Germany, 12.7% in UK

By Arjan - February 10, 2025 - Subject(s): Marketplaces, Statistics.

Last year, Amazon once again outpaced the ecommerce market growth in both Germany and the United Kingdom. Its revenue reached 39.6 billion euros and 36.7 billion euros, respectively. The American company has managed to withstand the rising competition from Chinese platforms, with growth in the United Kingdom accelerating even.

JD.com interested in buying Ceconomy

By Pleuni - February 6, 2025 - Subject(s): Acquisition, Marketplaces.

Chinese ecommerce giant JD.com is said to be in talks with Ceconomy, the owner of MediaMarkt and Saturn, about an acquisition. The Chinese platform wants to expand in Europe while its domestic economy is slowing down.

European ecommerce to grow 45% in 5 years

By Pleuni - February 3, 2025 - Subject(s): Marketplaces, Statistics.

Between 2024 and 2029, Forrester is predicting an increase in online sales in Europe. It expects that online sales will grow from 389 billion euros in 2024, to 565 billion euros in 2029. Online sales will also take up a larger share of the total retail sales.

Amazon introduces Easy Ship in Europe

By Pleuni - January 31, 2025 - Subject(s): Logistics, Marketplaces.

Online marketplace Amazon is introducing a shipping solution called Easy Ship in Europe, for sellers in the Netherlands and Poland. According to the ecommerce giant, the solution helps sellers ship their products faster, smoother and more cost-effectively.

TikTok brings its fulfillment service to Germany

By Arjan - January 30, 2025 - Subject(s): Launch, Logistics, Marketplaces.

TikTok Shop is preparing to launch in Germany, as indicated by various job postings. Notably, sellers will soon be able to utilize Fulfilled by TikTok (FBT) in Germany. This suggests TikTok plans to open warehouses for sales partners on the European mainland.

Kaufland discontinues fulfillment service

By Arjan - January 27, 2025 - Subject(s): Cross-border, Cross-channel, Logistics, Marketplaces.

German online marketplace Kaufland is discontinuing Fulfillment by Kaufland (FBK). The service will remain active until February 28, after which stored products will be returned free of charge to the respective selling partners. The platform is working on an international multichannel alternative.

Marketplaces are using dark patterns

By Pleuni - January 24, 2025 - Subject(s): Laws and regulations, Marketplaces.

Most well-known marketplaces and social media platforms are using dark patterns. These are designs that manipulate consumers into making impulsive purchases, or into revealing more data. Using these patterns is banned under the DSA. Stricter regulations seem necessary, say researchers.